Gas mileage in a 2011 Silverado 1500 4WD Crew Cab LTZ
January 1st, 2011, 9:51 AM
#12
CF Senior Member
I have a 2004 Silverado 4x2 with the venerable 5.3L V8. My truck has 86,000 miles on it (and I bought it a year ago with 74k on the clock). GM calls for 87 octane fuel, on which the truck does just fine; but I tried running a few tanks of premium unleaded just to see if it made a difference.
My miles per gallon stayed the same, but the truck did seem to have a bit more "scoot" to it with 92 octane in the tank. With 87 octane fuel, my truck will give a slight (very slight) "ping" or knock under hard acceleration or when climbing a hill. I have been told that this is not harmful if it only happens once in a blue moon - but I know I would not want it to do that all the time.
I know that the engine used in the Corvette is probably tuned up much higher, uses a higher compression ratio and the timing is set farther ahead -- so it is not really fair to say that using 87 in a Silverado is like putting cheap fuel into a 'Vette.
This is sort of like how the Toyota Camry takes regular fuel, but the Lexus with the same V6 engine calls for premium. The Lexus has slightly different tuning, even though the engine itself has the same hardware. My girlfriend's 2002 Highlander runs fine on 87 unleaded, but a mechanically-similar Lexus SUV (RX300??) needs premium for its 3.0L V6 engine.
My Silverado gets 14 mpg (at the worst) in local driving, but will get 19 mpg on the open road at 70+ miles per hour. Cruise control is my best friend on long trips; as is the taller rear axle ratio (3.42:1 for my truck, I think). I average 16 to 17 in mixed driving, which is not really that bad for a full-size, extended cab pickup truck with 17" tires and a strong V8 engine. With the price of 87-octane unleaded gasoline now at $2.95 to $3.05 in my area, that music resonating from my dual Flowmasters is getting more costly!
From what I saw on the news, gasoline has been over three dollars in CA for a long, long time. Yuck!
P.S. I cannot find "non-ethanol" fuel anywhere in my part of the state. Seems as though we are stuck with it. In my opinion, the ethanol belongs in my liqour cabinet - not in my gas tank!
My miles per gallon stayed the same, but the truck did seem to have a bit more "scoot" to it with 92 octane in the tank. With 87 octane fuel, my truck will give a slight (very slight) "ping" or knock under hard acceleration or when climbing a hill. I have been told that this is not harmful if it only happens once in a blue moon - but I know I would not want it to do that all the time.
I know that the engine used in the Corvette is probably tuned up much higher, uses a higher compression ratio and the timing is set farther ahead -- so it is not really fair to say that using 87 in a Silverado is like putting cheap fuel into a 'Vette.
This is sort of like how the Toyota Camry takes regular fuel, but the Lexus with the same V6 engine calls for premium. The Lexus has slightly different tuning, even though the engine itself has the same hardware. My girlfriend's 2002 Highlander runs fine on 87 unleaded, but a mechanically-similar Lexus SUV (RX300??) needs premium for its 3.0L V6 engine.
My Silverado gets 14 mpg (at the worst) in local driving, but will get 19 mpg on the open road at 70+ miles per hour. Cruise control is my best friend on long trips; as is the taller rear axle ratio (3.42:1 for my truck, I think). I average 16 to 17 in mixed driving, which is not really that bad for a full-size, extended cab pickup truck with 17" tires and a strong V8 engine. With the price of 87-octane unleaded gasoline now at $2.95 to $3.05 in my area, that music resonating from my dual Flowmasters is getting more costly!
From what I saw on the news, gasoline has been over three dollars in CA for a long, long time. Yuck!
P.S. I cannot find "non-ethanol" fuel anywhere in my part of the state. Seems as though we are stuck with it. In my opinion, the ethanol belongs in my liqour cabinet - not in my gas tank!
Last edited by JK23112; January 1st, 2011 at 9:54 AM.
January 1st, 2011, 11:03 AM
#13
CF Veteran
1.The most likely reason Delbert51 mpg was low was his 73mph speed, most MPG is calculated at a speed of about 45mph.
2.Top tier has nothing to do with octane but the detergents and other additives added to the fuel.
3.Higher octane fuel only prevents pre-detonation or knock due to high compression or advanced timing.
using anything other then what is recommend for fuel is a waste of money UNLESS you have done engine mods that require higher octane related to statement #3 above.
2.Top tier has nothing to do with octane but the detergents and other additives added to the fuel.
3.Higher octane fuel only prevents pre-detonation or knock due to high compression or advanced timing.
using anything other then what is recommend for fuel is a waste of money UNLESS you have done engine mods that require higher octane related to statement #3 above.
Additionally, no one has considered the terrain he was traveling. Cleveland to Buffalo or throughout Pennsylvania is mountainous terrain. Foothills of North Carolina speak for themselves, if there is a foot to the hill then there is also a hill. It take a bit of energy to propel a 5500 car up a hill at any speed, much less to come down it. And that can reduce your overall fuel efficiency. Running through Central US, for example from Nebraska to St. Louis his mileage would be different than running from Boston to Buffalo. All those hills reduce your mileage.
And octane requirements are based on the compression ratio of your engine. Most of the new American cars since 1990 are designed to run maximally on 89 octane, but perform poorly on as low as 83 octane, but sometimes have been known to run on 85 octane, depending on what region you live in. Do this to a European car and the car will throw codes and do temper tantrums.
Last edited by RacerX; January 1st, 2011 at 11:06 AM.
January 2nd, 2011, 10:04 AM
#14
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I have a 2011 1500 Z71 with the 5.3 (LC9) model and I get 11.5 city 87 oct. e85 8.6 I am not impresed with this I did put a lift and 35 tires so that has some to do with this im sure it has 3.42 gears thinking of 4.56 as it seeems to lug down and I'm in the petal way more! my 2008 got 17 miles to the gal same lift and tires but had a 4.10 in that sounds off but maybe thats why the gearing?
January 2nd, 2011, 12:42 PM
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I have a 2011 Silverado 1500 4WD Extended Cat LT with the VORTEC 5.3L V8 and have around 500 miles on it now. My main drive every day is about 16 miles to work on flat back roads and the only long distance trip so far has been 150 miles round trip on the highway at 70 MPH with CC. The average MPG so far seem to be between 16.8 to 18.1 using 87 Octane.
Last edited by ramnj; January 2nd, 2011 at 12:44 PM.
January 2nd, 2011, 4:39 PM
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January 2nd, 2011, 6:55 PM
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Fuel Economy
My first questions would be---
Silverado 4x4 with 5300 motor or 1500 Silverado with 6.2 (6200) motor?
Which powertrain?
Most 5300 engines are the LC9 and most of the rear end gears ratios are the 3.42. Most 1500 Silverados with the big 6.2 motor have 3.73 gear.
Cold weather, winter blends of fuel, fuel type / quality / octane,
weather conditions, road conditions and driving style all affect fuel economy numbers. Most manufacturers drive the vehicle on a test track in ideal conditions to get those numbers.
Did you buy a heavy 6000# 4x4 truck because you wanted a truck or for fuel mileage. Buy a TDI Volkswagen if you want fuel economy!
It is hard to buy one vehicle that does it all as you always have to compromise in some area.
A 1500 Silverado LT Crewcab 4x4 with 5300 motor and 3.42 gear should see 13-19 miles to the gallon (real world).
My 2010 gets 13-14 in town and 18-19 on the open road. Thats it!
$100 per tank of fuel. Deduct 2-3 mpg for E85 fuel.
Hope this helps!
Deming
Silverado 4x4 with 5300 motor or 1500 Silverado with 6.2 (6200) motor?
Which powertrain?
Most 5300 engines are the LC9 and most of the rear end gears ratios are the 3.42. Most 1500 Silverados with the big 6.2 motor have 3.73 gear.
Cold weather, winter blends of fuel, fuel type / quality / octane,
weather conditions, road conditions and driving style all affect fuel economy numbers. Most manufacturers drive the vehicle on a test track in ideal conditions to get those numbers.
Did you buy a heavy 6000# 4x4 truck because you wanted a truck or for fuel mileage. Buy a TDI Volkswagen if you want fuel economy!
It is hard to buy one vehicle that does it all as you always have to compromise in some area.
A 1500 Silverado LT Crewcab 4x4 with 5300 motor and 3.42 gear should see 13-19 miles to the gallon (real world).
My 2010 gets 13-14 in town and 18-19 on the open road. Thats it!
$100 per tank of fuel. Deduct 2-3 mpg for E85 fuel.
Hope this helps!
Deming
